Integrated circuit layout

ABSTRACT

A layout of a portion of an integrated circuit includes first and second cell structures, each including a first or second dummy gate electrode disposed on a first or second boundary of the corresponding first or second cell structure, a first or second edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the corresponding first or second dummy gate electrode, and a first or second oxide definition (OD) region having a first or second edge. The second boundary faces the first boundary without abutting the first boundary. The first edge of the first OD region is substantially aligned with the closest edge of the first dummy gate electrode or overlaps the first dummy gate electrode. A distance from the first edge gate electrode to the farthest edge of the first dummy gate electrode is greater than the distance from the first edge gate electrode to the first edge of the first OD region.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/084,748, filed Apr. 12, 2011, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 8,661,389,is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of semiconductordevices, and more particularly, to integrated circuit layouts.

BACKGROUND

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapidgrowth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have producedgenerations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complexcircuits than the previous generation. However, these advances haveincreased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, forthese advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing andmanufacturing are needed.

In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number ofinterconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased whilegeometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can becreated using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling downprocess generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiencyand lowering associated costs. Such scaling-down also produces arelatively high power dissipation value, which may be addressed by usinglow power dissipation devices such as complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is best understood from the following detaileddescription when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasizedthat, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, variousfeatures are not drawn to scale and are used for illustration purposesonly. In fact, the numbers and dimensions of the various features may bearbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a first exemplary method of designing anintegrated circuit.

FIG. 2A is a schematic drawing illustrating exemplary layout layers ofexemplary cell structures of a cell library.

FIG. 2B is a schematic drawing illustrating exemplary layout layers ofan integrated circuit including abutted cell structures.

FIGS. 2C-2E are schematic drawings illustrating exemplary layout layersof an integrated circuit including non-abutted cell structures withextended OD portions.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a second exemplary method of designing anintegrated circuit.

FIG. 3B is a schematic drawing illustrating exemplary layout layers ofan integrated circuit including non-abutted cell structures with aspacer larger than a gate electrode pitch.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating optional steps of designing anintegrated circuit.

FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are schematic drawings illustrating example layoutlayers of integrated circuits in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a third exemplary method of designing anintegrated circuit.

FIG. 6A is a schematic drawing illustrating exemplary layout layers ofexemplary cell structures of a cell library.

FIG. 6B is a schematic drawing illustrating exemplary layout layers ofan integrated circuit including abutted cell structures.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing illustrating an exemplary computer systemfor circuit designs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For integrated circuits, edge transistors usually have source/drain(S/D) regions that are located on verges of oxide definition (OD)regions and shallow trench isolation (STI) features. That is, the S/Dregions of the edge transistors have OD regions that are smaller thanthose of non-edge transistors. The small OD regions of the edgetransistors may result in contact resistance variations of theintegrated circuits. The contact resistance variations become even worseif stress-engineering epitaxial structures are formed in the small ODregions.

It is understood that the following descriptions provides many differentembodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of thedisclosure. Specific examples of components and arrangements aredescribed below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, ofcourse, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. Inaddition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/orletters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose ofsimplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationshipbetween the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.Moreover, the formation of a feature on, connected to, and/or coupled toanother feature in the present disclosure that follows may includeembodiments in which the features are formed in direct contact, and mayalso include embodiments in which additional features may be formedinterposing the features, such that the features may not be in directcontact. In addition, spatially relative terms, for example, “lower,”“upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,”“top,” “bottom,” etc. as well as derivatives thereof (e.g.,“horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) are used for ease of thepresent disclosure of one feature's relationship to another feature. Thespatially relative terms are intended to cover different orientations ofthe device including the features.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of designing an integratedcircuit. It is understood that FIG. 1 has been simplified for a betterunderstanding of the concepts of the present disclosure. Accordingly, itshould be noted that additional steps may be provided before, during,and after the method of FIG. 1, and that some other steps may only bebriefly described herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, a method 100 of designing an integrated circuitincludes providing a cell library including a first cell structure and asecond cell structure (block 110). The first cell structure can includea first dummy gate electrode disposed on a first boundary of the firstcell structure. The first cell structure can include a first edge gateelectrode disposed adjacent to the first dummy gate electrode. The firstcell structure can include a first oxide definition (OD) region having afirst edge disposed between the first dummy gate electrode and the firstedge gate electrode. The second cell structure can include a seconddummy gate electrode disposed on a second boundary of the second cellstructure. The second cell structure can include a second edge gateelectrode disposed adjacent to the second dummy gate electrode. Thesecond cell structure can include a second OD region having a secondedge disposed between the second dummy gate electrode and the secondedge gate electrode. The method 100 includes placing and routing thecell structures to form an integrated circuit (block 115). The method100 includes determining if the first cell structure is to be abuttedwith the second cell structure (block 120). If the first cell structureis to be abutted with the second cell structure, the method 100 includesabutting the first cell structure with the second cell structure (block130). If the first cell structure is not to be abutted with the secondcell structure, the method 100 includes increasing an area of a firstportion of the first OD region between the first dummy gate electrodeand the first edge gate electrode and increasing an area of a portion ofthe second OD region between the second dummy gate electrode and thesecond edge gate electrode (block 140).

For example, a cell library can include cell structures 201 a and 201 bas shown in FIG. 2A. It is noted that the exemplary drawing shown inFIG. 2A merely depicts overlaps of a diffusion layer and a gateelectrode layer. In some embodiments, the cell structures 201 a and 201b can include more layers, e.g., a contact layer, via layers, metalliclayers, one or more other layout layers, and/or any combinationsthereof. Furthermore, the heights of the gate electrodes and diffusionlayers do not mean to be necessarily equal between cell structures 201 aand 201 b. In FIG. 2A, the cell structures 201 a and 201 b can eachinclude respective dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d disposed onboundaries 210 a and 210 b. The cell structures 201 a and 201 b can eachinclude respective edge gate electrodes 230 a-230 d disposed adjacent tothe dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively.

In some embodiments, the cell structures 201 a and 201 b can eachinclude respective oxide definition (OD) regions 240 a-240 d. The ODregions 240 a-240 d can be spaced from each other by an isolationstructure (not labeled). The isolation structure can include a shallowtrench isolation (STI) structure and/or a local oxidation of silicon(LOCOS) structure. The OD regions 240 a-240 d can have edges 243 a-243d, respectively. The edges 243 a-243 d can each be disposed between therespective dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d and edge gate electrodes230 a-230 d. In some embodiments, the cell structures 201 a and 201 bcan include gate electrodes 231 a-231 d and 231 e-231 h, respectively.The gate electrodes 231 a-231 h can be referred to as non-edge gateelectrodes. In other embodiments, the OD regions 240 a-240 d can includeOD portions 241 a-241 d, respectively, each of which can extend betweenthe respective edge gate electrodes 230 a-230 d and dummy gateelectrodes 220 a-220 d.

In some embodiments, the OD regions 240 a and 240 c can be provided forforming at least one P-type transistor and the OD regions 240 b and 240d can be provided for forming at least one N-type transistor. In someembodiments, the integrated circuit that is to be designed can include adigital circuit, an analog circuit, a mixed-signal circuit, a staticrandom access memory (SRAM) circuit, an embedded SRAM circuit, dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM) circuit, an embedded DRAM circuit, anon-volatile memory circuit, e.g., FLASH, EPROM, E²PROME, afield-programmable gate array circuit, and/or any combinations thereof.In other embodiments, the at least one P-type transistor using the ODregions 240 a and 240 c and the at least one N-type transistor using theOD regions 240 b and 240 d can be deployed in an inverter, a logic gatecircuit, an amplifier, a charge pump circuit, or any circuit that has aCMOS device.

Referring again to FIG. 1, after placing and routing the cell structures201 a and 201 b (block 115), the block 120 determines if the cellstructures 201 a and 201 b are to be abutted to each other. If the cellstructures 201 a and 201 b are to be abutted to each other, the method100 includes abutting the cell structures 201 a and 201 b (block 130).The abutted cell structures 201 a and 201 b are shown in FIG. 2B. InFIG. 2B, the boundaries 210 a and 210 b of the cell structures 201 a and201 b, respectively, can be abutted to each other. The dummy gateelectrodes 220 a and 220 b can be shared by the cell structures 201 aand 201 b.

Referring again to FIG. 1, if the cell structures 201 a and 201 b arenot to be abutted to each other, the method 100 includes increasing anarea of a first portion of the first OD region between the first edgegate electrode and the first dummy gate electrode (block 140). Forexample, the area of the OD portion 241 a (shown in FIG. 2A) can beincreased so as to be the same size area as the area of the OD portion245 a (shown in FIG. 2C). In other embodiments, the areas of the ODportions 241 b-241 d (shown in FIG. 2A) can be increased so as to be thesame size area as the areas of the OD portion 245 b-245 d, respectively(shown in FIG. 2C). The OD portions 245 a-245 d can provide desiredelectrical contacts with contact plugs (not shown) that are formed onthe OD portions 245 a-245 d.

In some embodiments, the areas of the OD portions 241 a-241 d can beincreased by extending edges 243 a-243 d of the OD portions 241 a-241 d,respectively (shown in FIG. 2A), such that the edges 247 a-247 d of theOD portions 245 a-245 d can be substantially aligned with edges 221a-221 d of the dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively, as shownin FIG. 2C. In other embodiments, increasing the areas of the ODportions 241 a-241 d can be achieved by filling OD portions within gapsbetween the OD portions 241 a-241 d and the dummy gate electrodes 220a-220 d, respectively.

In other embodiments, the areas of the OD portions 241 a-241 d (shown inFIG. 2A) can be increased so as to be the same size area as the areas ofthe OD portions 251 a-251 d (shown in FIG. 2D). For example, the areasof the OD portions 241 a-241 d can be increased by extending edges 243a-243 d of the OD portions 241 a-241 d, respectively (shown in FIG. 2A),such that the OD portions 251 a-251 d overlap with the dummy gateelectrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2D. Edges 253a-253 d of the OD portions 251 a-251 d can be extended to and under thedummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively.

In still other embodiments, the areas of the OD portions 241 a-241 d(shown in FIG. 2A) can be increased so as to be the same size areas asthe areas of the OD portions 255 a-255 d (shown in FIG. 2E). Forexample, the areas of the OD portions 241 a-241 d can be increased byextending edges 243 a-243 d of the OD portions 241 a-241 d, respectively(shown in FIG. 2A), such that the OD portions 255 a-255 d extend crossthe dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively, as shown in FIG.2E. Edges 257 a-257 d of the OD portions 255 a-255 d can be extendedcross the dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively. In someembodiments, the OD portion 255 a is spaced from the OD portion 255 c bya predetermined distance, such that an STI or a LOCOS can besuccessfully formed and the OD portion 255 a is substantiallyelectrically isolated from the OD portion 255 c during an electricaloperation.

In some embodiments, the abutted cell structures and/or non-abutted cellstructures described above in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2E can be savedas a layout database. The layout database can be converted to a graphicdata system (GDS) file for making masks for semiconductor manufacturing.

As described above in conjunction with FIGS. 2C-2E, the OD portions ofthe edge transistors are increased. The increased OD portions allowcontact plugs to be formed on the OD portions rather than on verges ofOD regions. Thus, STI features can be substantially reduced and contactresistance variations resulting from the small OD regions can besubstantially eliminated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of another exemplary method of designing anintegrated circuit. Items of FIG. 3A that are the same or similar itemsin FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals, increased by200. It is understood that FIG. 3A has been simplified for a betterunderstanding of the concepts of the present disclosure. Accordingly, itshould be noted that additional steps may be provided before, during,and after the method of FIG. 3A, and that some other steps may only bebriefly described herein.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method 300 of designing an integrated circuit caninclude providing a cell library including a first cell structure and asecond cell structure (block 310). The method 300 can include placingand routing the cell structures to form an integrated circuit (block315). The method 300 can include determining if the first cell structureis to be abutted with the second cell structure (block 320). If thefirst cell structure is to be abutted with the second cell structure,the method 300 includes abutting the first cell structure with thesecond cell structure (block 330).

In some embodiments, if the first cell structure is not to be abuttedwith the second cell structure, the method 300 includes determining if aspace between boundaries is larger than a pitch of the gate electrode(block 345). For example, a space S₁ is between the boundaries 210 a and210 b as shown in FIG. 3B. A pitch P is a distance from an edge of thegate electrode 231 a to an edge of the edge gate electrode 230 a asshown in FIG. 3B. If the space S₁ is not larger than the pitch P, themethod 300 includes extending the edges of the OD portions 241 a-241 d(shown in FIG. 2A) so as to achieve the OD portions 245 a-245 d, 251a-251 d or 255 a-255 d as described above in conjunction with FIGS.2C-2E, respectively.

In some embodiments, if the space S₁ is larger than the pitch P, themethod 300 includes determining if the first portion of the first ODregion is to be electrically coupled with a signal net (block 355). Thesignal net means that the node is not electrically coupled to a powervoltage, e.g., V_(CC)/V_(DD), or ground voltage, e.g., V_(SS). Forexample, if the OD portions 241 a-241 d (shown in FIG. 3B) are to beelectrically coupled with signal nets, the method 300 includes extendingthe edges of the OD portions 241 a-241 d (shown in FIG. 2A) so as toachieve the OD portions 245 a-245 d, 251 a-251 d or 255 a-255 d asdescribed above in conjunction with FIGS. 2C-2E, respectively.

In some embodiments, if the OD portions 241 a-241 d (shown in FIG. 3B)are not to be electrically coupled with signal nets, the method 300includes replacing the first dummy gate electrode with a first dummytransistor (block 360). For example, dummy transistors 260 a-260 d canreplace the dummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d, respectively, as shown inFIG. 3B. The dummy transistors 260 a-260 b include dummy gate electrodes261 a-261 d and OD portions 263 a-263 d, respectively. By replacing thedummy gate electrodes 220 a-220 d with the dummy transistors 260 a-260d, the OD portions 263 a-263 d can abut and/or overlap with the ODportions 241 a-241 d, respectively. Though replacing the dummy gateelectrodes 220 a-220 b with the dummy transistors 260 a-260 c, themethod 300 is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the method 300can include extending or filling the OD portions as described above inconjunction with FIGS. 2C-2E.

In some embodiments, after the block 345 the method 300 can optionallyinclude determining the space is larger than or equal to two times ofthe pitch (block 365) as shown in FIG. 4A. For example, after theplacement and routing, dummy gate electrodes 220 e and 220 f can bedisposed between the cell structures 201 a and 201 b as shown in FIG.4B. A space S₂ is a distance between the boundaries 210 a and 210 b.

In some embodiments, if the space S₂ is not larger than or equal to twotimes of the pitch P, the method 300 goes to block 355. In otherembodiments, if the space S₂ is larger than or equal to two times of thepitch P, the method 300 can optionally include replacing the dummy gateelectrodes 220 e and 220 f with dummy transistors 260 e and 260 f,respectively, as shown in FIG. 4C. The dummy transistors 260 e and 260 finclude dummy gate electrodes 261 e and 261 f and OD portions 263 e and263 f, respectively. By replacing the dummy gate electrodes 220 e and220 f with the dummy transistors 260 e and 260 f, the OD portions 263 eand 263 f can abut and/or overlap with the OD portions 263 a, 263 c and263 b, 263 d, respectively.

It is noted that the flowchart shown in FIG. 4A is merely exemplary. Insome embodiments, the stop of the block 365 can be performed after theblock 355. In other embodiments, the replacement of the dummy gateelectrodes 220 a-220 f with the dummy transistors 260 a-260 f can beperformed by the same process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another exemplary method of designing anintegrated circuit. It is understood that FIG. 5 has been simplified fora better understanding of the concepts of the present disclosure.Accordingly, it should be noted that additional steps may be providedbefore, during, and after the method of FIG. 5, and that some othersteps may only be briefly described herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, a method 500 of designing an integrated circuitincludes providing a cell library including a first cell structure and asecond cell structure (block 510). The first cell structure can includea first dummy gate electrode spaced from a first boundary of the firstcell structure, a first edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to thefirst dummy gate electrode, and a first oxide definition (OD) regionhaving a first portion continuously extending between the first edgegate electrode and the first dummy gate electrode. The second cellstructure can include a second dummy gate electrode spaced from a secondboundary of the second cell structure, a second edge gate electrodedisposed adjacent to the second dummy gate electrode, and a second oxidedefinition (OD) region having a second portion continuously extendingbetween the second edge gate electrode and the second dummy gateelectrode. Furthermore, the heights of the gate electrodes and diffusionlayers do not mean to be necessarily equal between cell structures. Themethod 500 includes placing and routing the cell structures to form anintegrated circuit (block 515). The method 500 includes abutting thefirst cell structure with the second cell structure (block 530).

For example, a cell library can include cell structures 601 a and 601 bas shown in FIG. 6A. It is noted that the exemplary drawing shown inFIG. 6A merely depicts overlaps of a diffusion layer and a gateelectrode layer. Items of FIG. 6A that are the same or similar items inFIG. 2C are indicated by the same reference numerals, increased by 400.In FIG. 6A, the cell structures 601 a and 601 b can include respectivedummy gate electrodes 620 a-620 d disposed within boundaries 610 a and610 b. The cell structures 601 a and 601 b can include respective edgegate electrodes 630 a-630 d disposed adjacent to the dummy gateelectrodes 620 a-620 d, respectively. The cell structures 601 a and 601b can include respective oxide definition (OD) regions 640 a-640 d. TheOD regions 640 a-640 d can have OD portions 645 a-645 d thatcontinuously extend between the respective edge gate electrodes 630a-630 d and dummy gate electrodes 620 a-620 d. The OD portions 645 a-645d can have edges 647 a-647 d, respectively. The edges 647 a-647 d caneach be substantially aligned with edges 621 a-621 d of the dummy gateelectrodes 620 a-620 d, respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 5, after placing and routing the cell structures601 a and 601 b (block 515), the method 500 includes abutting the cellstructures 601 a and 601 b (block 530). The abutted cell structures 601a and 601 b can be shown in FIG. 6B. In FIG. 6B, the boundaries 610 aand 610 b of the cell structures 601 a and 601 b, respectively, can beabutted to each other.

Referring again to FIG. 6B, the dummy gate electrodes 620 a, 620 b and620 c, 620 d can be spaced from the boundaries 610 a and 610 b,respectively, by a predetermined distance. After abutting the cellstructures 601 a and 601 b, the space between the dummy gate electrodes620 a and 620 c can substantially electrically isolate the OD portions645 a and 645 c during an electrical operation. It is noted that the ODportions 645 a-645 d continuously extend between the edge gateelectrodes 630 a-630 d and the dummy gate electrodes 620 a-620 d,respectively. Contact plugs (not shown) for electrical connections landon the OD portions 645 a-645 d.

It is noted that the cell structures 601 a and 601 b shown in FIGS. 6Aand 6B are merely exemplary. In some embodiments, the method 500 canabut cell structures having OD portions that are the same as or similarto the OD portions 251 a-251 d and 255 a-225 d described above inconjunction with FIGS. 2D and 2E.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing illustrating an exemplary computer systemfor circuit designs. In FIG. 7, a computer system 710 can include acomputer readable storage medium 711 that is electrically coupled with aprocessor 715.

In some embodiments, the computer readable storage medium 711 can beconfigured to store a cell library including a first cell structure anda second cell structure. The first cell structure includes a first dummygate electrode disposed on a first boundary of the first cell structure,a first edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the first dummy gateelectrode, and a first oxide definition (OD) region having a first edgedisposed between the first edge gate electrode and the first dummy gateelectrode. The second cell structure includes a second dummy gateelectrode disposed on a second boundary of the second cell structure, asecond edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the second dummy gateelectrode, and a second OD region having a second edge disposed betweenthe second edge gate electrode and the second dummy gate electrode. Forexample, the computer readable storage medium 711 can be configured tostore the cell structures 201 a and 201 b described above in conjunctionwith FIG. 2A. In other embodiments, the computer readable storage medium711 can be configured to store the cell structures 601 a and 601 bdescribed above in conjunction with FIG. 6A.

In some embodiments, the computer readable storage medium 711 can be anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, asemiconductor system (or apparatus or device). For example, the computerreadable storage medium 711 can include a semiconductor or solid-statememory, a magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a read-onlymemory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and/or an optical disk. In someembodiments using optical disks, the computer readable storage medium711 can include a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), a compactdisk-read/write (CD-R/W), and/or a digital video disc (DVD).

In some embodiments, the processor 715 can be configured to determine ifthe first cell structure is to be abutted with the second cell structure(block 120) as described above in conjunction with FIG. 1. If the firstcell structure is to be abutted with the second cell structure, theprocessor 715 can be configured to abut the first cell structure withthe second cell structure (block 130) as described above in conjunctionwith FIGS. 1 and 2B. In other embodiments, the processor 715 can beconfigured to abut the cell structures 601 a and 601 b (block 530) asdescribed above in conjunction with FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, if the first cell structure is not to be abuttedwith the second cell structure, the processor 715 can be configured toincrease an area of a first portion of the first OD region between thefirst edge gate electrode and the first dummy gate electrode (block 140)as described above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2C-2E. In someembodiments, the processor 715 can be encoded with a computer programcode. The processor 715 can be configured to execute the computerprogram code for designing integrated circuits. The processor 715 can bea central processing unit (CPU), a multi-processor, a distributedprocessing system, and/or any suitable processing unit.

In some embodiments, if the first cell structure is not to be abuttedwith the second cell structure, the processor 715 can be furtherconfigured to determine if a space between the first and secondboundaries is larger than a pitch of the first gate electrode (block345) as described above in conjunction with FIG. 3A. If the space is notlarger than the pitch of the first gate electrode, the processor 715 canbe configured to increase the area of the first portion by extending thefirst edge of the first OD region (block 350) as described inconjunction with FIG. 3A.

In some embodiments, if the space is larger than the pitch of the firstgate electrode, the processor 715 can be further configured to determineif the first portion of the first OD region is to be electricallycoupled with a signal net (block 355) as described above in conjunctionwith FIG. 3A. If the first portion of the first OD region is to beelectrically coupled with a signal net, the processor 715 can beconfigured to increase the area of the first portion by extending thefirst edge of the first OD region (block 350).

In some embodiments, if the first portion of the first OD region is notto be electrically coupled with a signal net, the processor 715 can beconfigured to increase the area of the first portion by replacing thefirst dummy gate electrode with a first dummy transistor (block 260) asdescribed above in conjunction with FIGS. 3A and 3B.

In some embodiments, if the space is larger than the pitch of the firstgate electrode, and the processor 715 can be further configured todetermine if the space is larger than or equal to two times of the pitch(block 365) as described above in conjunction with FIG. 4A. If the spaceis larger than or equal to two times of the pitch, the processor 715 canbe further configured to replace a third dummy gate electrode with asecond dummy transistor (block 370).

In some embodiments, a layout of a portion of an integrated circuit isstored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprises firstand second cell structures. The first cell structure includes a firstdummy gate electrode disposed on a first boundary of the first cellstructure, a first edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the firstdummy gate electrode, and a first oxide definition (OD) regionoverlapping the first edge gate electrode. The second cell structureincludes a second dummy gate electrode disposed on a second boundary ofthe second cell structure, a second edge gate electrode disposedadjacent to the second dummy gate electrode, and a second OD regionoverlapping the second edge gate electrode. The second boundary facesthe first boundary without abutting the first boundary. The first dummygate electrode is a gate electrode of a first dummy transistor. Thefirst OD region overlaps the first dummy gate electrode.

In some embodiments, a layout of a portion of an integrated circuit isstored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprises firstand second cell structures. The first cell structure includes a firstdummy gate electrode spaced from an adjacent first boundary of the firstcell structure, a first edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to thefirst dummy gate electrode, and a first oxide definition (OD) regionhaving a first portion continuously extending between the first edgegate electrode and the first dummy gate electrode. The second cellstructure includes a second dummy gate electrode spaced from an adjacentsecond boundary of the second cell structure, a second edge gateelectrode disposed adjacent to the second dummy gate electrode, and asecond OD region having a second portion continuously extending betweenthe second edge gate electrode and the second dummy gate electrode. Thesecond boundary abuts the first boundary.

In some embodiments, a layout of a portion of an integrated circuit isstored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprises firstand second cell structures. The first cell structure includes a firstdummy gate electrode disposed on a first boundary of the first cellstructure, a first edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the firstdummy gate electrode, and a first oxide definition (OD) region having afirst edge. The second cell structure includes a second dummy gateelectrode disposed on a second boundary of the second cell structure, asecond edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the second dummy gateelectrode, and a second OD region having a second edge. The secondboundary faces the first boundary without abutting the first boundary.The first edge of the first OD region is substantially aligned with theclosest edge of the first dummy gate electrode or overlaps the firstdummy gate electrode. A distance from the first edge gate electrode tothe farthest edge of the first dummy gate electrode is greater than thedistance from the first edge gate electrode to the first edge of thefirst OD region.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A layout of a portion of an integrated circuit,the layout stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium andcomprising: a first cell structure including: a first dummy gateelectrode disposed on a first boundary of the first cell structure; afirst edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the first dummy gateelectrode; and a first oxide definition (OD) region overlapping thefirst edge gate electrode; and a second cell structure including: asecond dummy gate electrode disposed on a second boundary of the secondcell structure; a second edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to thesecond dummy gate electrode; a second non-edge gate electrode disposedadjacent to the second edge gate electrode; and a second OD regionoverlapping the second edge gate electrode and the second non-edge gateelectrode, wherein the second boundary faces the first boundary withoutabutting the first boundary, the first dummy gate electrode is a gateelectrode of a first dummy transistor, the first OD region abuts to oroverlaps with an OD portion of the first dummy transistor, and the ODportion of the first dummy transistor extends into a space between thefirst boundary and the second boundary, wherein the layout is usable bya computer system for designing the integrated circuit.
 2. The layout ofclaim 1, wherein the first OD region is configured to be free ofelectrical connections with signal nets.
 3. The layout of claim 1,wherein the second dummy gate is a gate electrode of a second dummytransistor, and the second OD region abuts to or overlaps with an ODportion of the second dummy transistor.
 4. The layout of claim 3,wherein the second OD region is configured to be free of electricalconnections with signal nets.
 5. The layout of claim 4, wherein thefirst OD region is configured to be free of electrical connections withsignal nets.
 6. The layout of claim 5, wherein an edge of the first ODregion faces and is electrically isolated from an edge of the second ODregion.
 7. The layout of claim 3, wherein the first cell structurefurther includes a first gate electrode adjacent the first edge gateelectrode, the space between the first boundary of the first cellstructure and the second boundary of the second cell structure is notlarger than two times of a pitch between the first gate electrode andthe first edge gate electrode, and the layout further comprises a thirddummy transistor between the first and second dummy gate electrodes. 8.The layout of claim 1, wherein the first cell structure further includesa first gate electrode adjacent the first edge gate electrode, the spacebetween the first boundary of the first cell structure and the secondboundary of the second cell structure is larger than or equal to twotimes of a pitch between the first gate electrode and the first edgegate electrode, and the layout further comprises a third dummy gateelectrode between the first and second dummy gate electrodes.
 9. Alayout of a portion of an integrated circuit, the layout stored on anon-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising: a first cellstructure including: a first dummy gate electrode spaced apart from anadjacent first boundary of the first cell structure; a first edge gateelectrode disposed adjacent to the first dummy gate electrode; a firstnon-edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the first edge gateelectrode; and a first oxide definition (OD) region having a firstportion continuously extending between the first non-edge gate electrodeand the first dummy gate electrode; and a second cell structureincluding: a second dummy gate electrode spaced apart from an adjacentsecond boundary of the second cell structure; a second edge gateelectrode disposed adjacent to the second dummy gate electrode; a secondnon-edge gate electrode disposed adjacent to the second edge gateelectrode; and a second OD region having a second portion continuouslyextending between the second non-edge gate electrode and the seconddummy gate electrode, wherein the second boundary abuts the firstboundary, and the first dummy gate electrode and the second dummy gateelectrode are separated by a space that is free of a contact layer,wherein the layout is usable by a computer system for designing theintegrated circuit.
 10. The layout of claim 9, wherein an edge of thefirst portion of the first OD region is substantially aligned with anedge of the first dummy gate electrode.
 11. The layout of claim 9,wherein the first portion of the first OD region overlaps the firstdummy gate electrode.
 12. The layout of claim 9, wherein the firstportion of the first OD region extends across the first dummy gateelectrode.
 13. The layout of claim 9, wherein the first dummy gateelectrode is positioned between the first boundary of the first cell andthe first edge gate electrode, the second dummy gate electrode ispositioned between the second boundary of the second cell structure andthe second edge gate electrode, and the first dummy gate electrode andthe second dummy gate electrode are positioned on opposite sides of theabutted first and second boundaries.
 14. A layout of a portion of anintegrated circuit, the layout stored on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium and comprising: a first cell structureincluding: a first dummy gate electrode disposed on a first boundary ofthe first cell structure; a first edge gate electrode disposed adjacentto the first dummy gate electrode; and a first oxide definition (OD)region overlapping the first edge gate electrode; and a second cellstructure including: a second dummy gate electrode disposed on a secondboundary of the second cell structure; a second edge gate electrodedisposed adjacent to the second dummy gate electrode; and a second ODregion having a second portion continuously extending between the secondedge gate electrode and the second dummy gate electrode, wherein thesecond boundary faces the first boundary without abutting to the firstboundary, a first edge of the first OD region is substantially alignedwith the closest edge of the first dummy gate electrode or extendsbeyond the farthest edge of the first dummy gate electrode, the firstdummy gate electrode and the second dummy gate electrode are separatedby a space that is free of a contact layer, wherein the layout is usableby a computer system for designing the integrated circuit.
 15. Thelayout of claim 14, wherein the first edge of the first OD region issubstantially aligned with the closest edge of the first dummy gateelectrode.
 16. The layout of claim 14, wherein the first edge of thefirst OD region overlaps the first dummy gate electrode.
 17. The layoutof claim 14, wherein the first cell structure further includes a firstgate electrode adjacent the first edge gate electrode.
 18. The layout ofclaim 17, wherein a spacing between the first boundary of the first cellstructure and the second boundary of the second cell structure is largerthan a pitch between the first gate electrode and the first edge gateelectrode, but less than two times of the pitch, the first OD region isconfigured to be free of electrical connections with signal nets, thelayout further comprises a first dummy transistor, and the first dummygate electrode is a gate electrode of the first dummy transistor. 19.The layout of claim 17, wherein a spacing between the first boundary ofthe first cell structure and the second boundary of the second cellstructure is larger than or equal to two times of a pitch between thefirst gate electrode and the first edge gate electrode, and the layoutfurther comprises a third dummy gate electrode between the first andsecond dummy gate electrodes.
 20. The layout of claim 17, wherein aspacing between the first boundary of the first cell structure and thesecond boundary of the second cell structure is larger than a pitchbetween the first gate electrode and the first edge gate electrode, butless than two times of the pitch, and the layout further comprises adummy transistor between the first and second dummy gate electrodes.